Quote:
Originally Posted by frezer11
I take the exact opposite approach here. If a team wants to foul intentionally at the end of a game, I'm much more inclined to call a touch foul to prevent them making a more physical foul to ensure it gets called.
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So you reward the team which is behind and trying to infringe the rules for its benefit while punishing the team that is ahead and desires to work the clock? That's unfair. An official is supposed to be fair to both teams and also ensure that a team doesn't derive an advantage not intended by the rules. Make them execute a proper foul to prevent the team with the ball from doing what it desires.
While fouling near the end of the game is an accepted strategy, so is playing keep away to run out the clock. There is a right way to foul and wrong ways to do it. Officials should not favor one team's desire over the other's in such situations.
People have discussed having a quick whistle when the offense stands there and allows the defense to foul, but we've also written about being fair to the offensive team when they are passing the ball around and attempting to avoid being fouled. Just because a team wants to foul doesn't mean that it should be given that call.